Actors Javier Bardem, Marion Cotillard and Vanessa Redgrave have signed on to voice roles in "The Turning Door," an independent animated fantasy feature directed by Nicholas Ashe Bateman. Their addition strengthens an already starry ensemble for the family-oriented film, which is currently in production and being pitched to international distributors, underlining the growing appeal of high-profile actors lending their voices to animated projects outside the major studio system.

The film follows a young girl, Ariadlyn, played by newcomer Pippa Kelly, who discovers a mysterious box that becomes a portal to a fantastical realm called The Turning, where she must undertake a magical quest to save her parents. Bardem, Cotillard and Redgrave join a cast that already includes Alicia Vikander, Jamie Dornan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Bill Nighy and Gillian Anderson, alongside Swedish composer Anna von Hausswolff; all will perform original songs written by Bateman and Claire Givens. Mister Smith Entertainment is handling international sales and, having introduced the project to buyers at last year's AFM, will continue pitching it to distributors at TIFF's market in Toronto this month.